President Obama will be addressing the nation’s public school children directly next Tuesday, giving a message that is as of yet unclear. Parents are understandably worried about a political figure, even the president, broadcasting a message straight to their children while in school.

The Department of Education didn’t help ease concerns about indoctrination when it provided lesson plan suggestions to teachers across the country. One of the suggestions was that students, “Write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.” Wow. Just wow.

Our children having to promise that they’ll help a political figure accomplish his as-of-yet undefined goals. What could possibly go wrong there?

Anyway, parents and Republicans have apparently kicked up enough of a (deserved) sh*t storm over the attempt at indoctrination that the lesson plan suggestion has been rewritten by the Department of Education:

Today, after Republicans accused the White House of trying to indoctrinate school children with liberal propaganda the White House and the Department of Education changed the section to now read, “Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short?term and long?term education goals.”

“We changed it to clarify the language so the intent is clear,” said White House Spokesman Tommy Vietor.

Actually, the new language is more than just a clarification. It’s gone from students helping the president to helping themselves achieve educational goals. Nice spin attempt from the White House, though. Gotta give ‘em credit for trying.

Many parents have actually pledged to keep their children home from school on that day, while local school boards are busy dealing with pissed off citizens a bit uneasy with the thought of the indoctrination of children while in school.

Were I Obama, I’d ensure that nothing in his speech even gives off a whiff of partisanship. He’ll be torn to pieces, and rightly so.

Via Michelle Malkin.